Katie will be teaching storybook beads which include some sculpturing techniques, whale tails which made awesome beads AND pendants, and an articulated Chinese Dragon. Katie is also an instructor/designer for the Polyform Company, makers of Sculpey and Premo. They will also kindly be providing all the clay we need for our worshop. We appreciate that so much!

Cindy will be demonstrating and teaching the faux turquoise technique from Tory Hughes, with her express permission!

On Sunday we'll have a two hour project class with Marcia Tuzzolino and Irene Hoffman of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team:

The rest of the day will be spent with B'sue......I'll be teaching RESPONSIBLE REPURPOSING, which is how to examine vintage jewelry for value instead of tear down value....and discover another great income stream for your business!

Each who can will bring a bag, box, or baggie! of old jewelry so that we can examine it and see if among us we have any hidden treasures....then, how to find their value and sell them. We will also talk about what you might have that would be great for you to use to make something else, and how you might do that.

I'll have lots of goodies and beverages and some cool deals on special buys brought in for the event. ;-)

Monday morning BREAKFAST MEETING to discuss our the premise of the Build a Line Challenge and what works for you in selling your handmade pieces.

Then, any who would like to come along can come back to the B'sue shop and be the studio audience for two videos we'll be making, first with Marcia and Irene, and another with Katie Oskin, who we regularly feature on our B'sue Boutiques You Tube Channel

This is the badge I will soon be loading onto this blog, and when I do it will be clickable to the event:

Thanks to Tammy Adams of the Paisley Lizard at Etsy for designing my sweet badge! Tammy is a member of the Build a Line Challenge Class....don't forget our next two blog hops, Feb 20 (this Friday) and March 20 for the grand finale!

Please email me at bsue1441@aol.com to get on the dibs list for this event. That's no obligation to come, just gives you dibs at seeing the contract when it comes out next week, getting your ticket paid, and making your arrangments to come. It will be placed on a special private Facebook page so you will be able to network with others who are coming or trying to make arrangements, even find a room mate to split hotel costs or find a travel buddy!

September 20, 2014

Yesterday I made the promised video about my findings with Ranger Perfect Pearls, and creatingdarker mixed media cold enamel/colorized finishes with the product.

Last week I made these two bracelets and a video about them:

These finish on both pieces was created by using the micro torch to create a base patina, then adding Ranger Perfect Pearls in CAPPUCINO and HEIRLOOM GOLD along with a little PERFECT BRONZE to highlight. The finish seal is spray lacquer, two coats, done close up so that the Perfect Pearls would 'run' a little and fill out.

The photo at the top of the page is also an example of our Victorian Wings finding done with torch patina and then combinations of the METALLICS set of Perfect Pearls as well as CAPPUCINO Perfect Pearls, which is a deep coffee/chocolate brown.

I actually experimented with a bunch of raw brass pieces in the video as well as a satin matte gold filigree from the B'sue Boutiques video.

In this photo I was trying to see how close I could get to our old Russian Goldplated finish....

The filigree on the ends are pieces I did with a combination of the metallics including Heirloom Gold....the one in the middle is a saved piece from my own stash of the old line. That line was truly special as it was the closest thing you could find in color to the old Haskell findings, which are very precious and special to me.

Here are some of those filigree done a couple of ways. The ones on the bottom were primered white first, then distressed, then the darker Perfect Pearls added and in the end, spray lacquered. The ones on the top are torch patina first, then the dark Perfect Pearls powders added over embossing ink.

Honestly I haven't tried heat setting them yet because sealing has been enough....but the next experiment I will definitely do that.

I have been intrigued with adding color to raw brass stampings for many years now. There are so many ways to do it. My friend, Cynthia Wainscott, a member of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team, did a tutorial for our website a number of years ago, using the powders and inks on a cuff bracelet.

When the Iced Enamels line came out, I fell in love with the idea of embossing powders over metal. Tim Holtz had done it a bit with his distress line, and so had a few others, but I jumped in when Iced Enamels showed up. Since then, I have been experimenting with all sorts of media just to see what would happen!

I did use the Perfect Pearls Medium but I found I liked the Stampendous clear embossing ink in the dauber even more. We will have some available at the site soon.

Here are a few more photos:

This is a series of Cappucino, Perfect Bronze, Interference Red, and Patina Green from the Patina set.

What I like about the Perfect Pearls is you can add color and some texture, but you don't lose detail, as you do in a heavier, thicker product like Iced Enamels. To me, I love the Iced Enamels because they have the lovely look of old graniteware....but they are too thick to use over a piece like the one above without losing all direction in the detail of the piece.

Perfect Pearls are also great for dusting over polymer clay before you bake it.....I do that A LOT.

This piece is one I have carried for well over 15 years:

I did just a very, very light torch patina on it by holding the micro torch high above the piece and letting it take golden color, gradually.

This piece is really versatile, because the leaves pull up and you can encase things....like this:

The sides could be bent back and used with filigree parts OR with wide ribbon or laces to make a marvelous bracelet.

I put color on three of these Bohemian Ladies, which you can find in the Unplated Brass section of our website:

February 08, 2014

My new quest is to try and find new ways to use the stampings we've always carried....the motto being, ten ways to use ONE stamping. It's a personal challenge offered to me by a trusted colleague who knows her stuff...

And I think it will be good for ALL of us, especially when I begin showing you what I discover. It will get your OWN ideas going!

That post, and a photo shared with us by Ingrid Anderson of lilisgems at Etsy, as well as the challenge commentary given me by my wise colleague inspired a flurry of activity here yesterday....and a new video:

Here is Ingrid's photo (also shared in the video):

As you can see, the motif of Ingrid's necklace is one side of the cuff flat.

This is the raw brass cuff flat from the previous video done last week, but now rolled by using my fingers against a hard table....no ball bat, no barbell, no bracelet mandrel. (The video demonstrates it). One is raw, no color, one is tea stain rose with a bit of Patina Gilder's Paste and then some Espresso Alcohol Ink over top and buffed out....layers of color.

Here is what I eventually made of the colored one:

The flowers are wired on and then the wire covered around the rim with pink sari ribbon (a fun little trick I often use when attachment pieces have a good bit of dimension, as these do!)

But I did mention cutting the stamping to get different looks, or get more projects from one piece! Well, this is my version of the sort of necklace that Ingrid made, also using our heavy etched rolo chain

I went over the brass ox plated metal with a mix of white and patina colored Gilder's Paste, thinned out a bit with mineral spirits to become a simple paint-wash. Then I buffed it back.

You can see the two different ways I cut out the tops. Also, I bent the second one and drilled the sides, as it will become a bracelet top. I also drilled the bottom of the necklace so that I could hang some beads. Next time I do this, I will do more of a worked neckline with more going on.

But that's not all!

Here it is in a couple more finishes....two projects from ONE stamping. You just need the shears, a file and some ultra-fine 0000 (quadruple ought) steel wool, to take care of any rough edges or excess brass.

Here's one more idea....I cut back the darker stamping a bit more to get a heart shaped plaque:

I hope you will find a bit of time to read Dr. Brassy's blog post and consider our video where I show you how to cut this out and also how to roll the cuff finding!

It is SO easy!

Be sure to visit our website at B'sue Boutiques where we specialize in the vintage style stampings.....and let your imagination go! See what YOU can come up with!

We have several riveting videos up already if you need help with that! B'sue also shows the riveting process to make the bracelet, in *this* video.

Here are some more 'up-close' pix of the bracelets, and some further observations that may help you make THIS bracelet, or one you are inspired to make *your* way, because of the video.

First, here's a clear side-ways view:

As you can see, the spoon is bent to go half-way around, and then attach with just a bit of chain to the other side. I put that opened-out cord end on the side of the spoon behind the cameo, so that it would provide a place for the lobster claw clasp to 'catch'.

This is the back of the piece so that you can really see how pretty the torch patina is. There are so many highs and lows in it, like a copper penny!

One thing I would do, if I made another one of these, is after I heated and torch patina'd the spoon and beat the bowl of the spoon down with my hammer....I would have added a little texture to it with a texture hammer. That would have looked a lot nicer than these little hammer marks. They aren't awful, I just think adding the texture would have been a nice touch.

Also....I mentioned in the video that when you set the eyelet-rivets, you must take care to attach them soundly, but not bang too-too hard. Banging too hard to make the cold connection must somehow work-harden the rivet a bit. What you get then, instead of a good, tight connection, is a loosey-goosey connection.

NOT what you want.

So, instead, why not run just a tiny bead of E6000 glue between the spoon and the cameo mount before you do the attachment?

Kate (Mulligan, designer of this project and a member of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team) tells me that she and Mike do that often. It really helps to make the piece stay good and tight.

Below, you can see the whole back, looking down. I simply applied the little rose charm (with glue) to the part of the spoon finding where back in time, they would have put an ornament of some sort. These spoon findings are solid brass, and they were originally used to make souvenir spoons for gift shops, back in the 50's!

The video is a bit long, runs a good 32 minutes, but we review so many techniques. It's like a free lesson! And just imagine...with a little planning, you, too, could make this bracelet in about 30-45 minutes!

Perhaps even less!

The bracelet would make a lovely gift; if you were to sell it, I would feel comfortable saying you should get minimally 35.00 for it and optimally 40 and up. The components cost just under 9.00 from our website.

You will, of course, need the tools. We carry them if you don't have them...but my guess is that you do! And once you have them, they will serve you for a long time.

By the way....having a big steel bracelet mandrel is a nice thing, but they are heavy shipping so where ever you get one, it's gonna be a little spendy. You might want to look for an alternative to start your bend....maybe a baseball bat or even the leg of an old-fashioned table....or a weighted can.

I believe in spending for what you really need....and not spending for anything you can rig up! Some things you can....some you can't.

Or you can assemble a BUNCH of them and make a statement necklace...even a charm bracelet.

I'm thinking of doing something with itty bitty spoons, keys and maybe some charm pendants made from charm pendants and soda caps. Throw a few colored beads into the mix...make it full and lush.

You can really go big! or go little with key jewelry. I usually go little here for the shop, but when I wear my pendants, I usually wear a long spoon pendant with a shorter key pendant, maybe even a button pendant, too.

It's the gypsy in me! What can I say?

Except here's a little embellishments kit for very little money that you can pick up at my website:

Souvenir spoons grew out of the birth of leisure tourism in Europe around the mid 1800s. Wealthy Americans on a Grand Tour of Europe brought home these souvenirs marked with the names of cities and some of the famous landmarks they had seen.

The first souvenir spoons produced in the United States were products of well-traveled silversmiths. The inaugural souvenir spoon was produced in 1889 by Galt & Bros of Washington D.C. It featured a profile of George Washington and was created to mark the 100th anniversary of his presidency. It was shortly followed by the Martha Washington spoon.

These early spoons were all made in STERLING. So be sure to watch for sterling marks on the spoons. Some may even have a hallmark, or at least the word STERLING or the .925 mark.

If you are out junking and find old spoons, it's most likely you will find silverplated ones (though you should always check for sterling marks). Some of the silverplated ones are made on brass blanks like these:

The handles are usually thin and easier to deal with than big silverplated flatware, in case you would like to repurpose them.

But wait! Do the spoons have any value?

Most of the ones I researched are worth anyplace from 5-15.00 each. Ones that come from very common tourist attractions, like for example, Niagara Falls, aren't worth much, as many, many were made, collected and sold.

Normally, values of silverplated spoons do not go terribly high; they are of later make. The most valuable ones are from rare places or something that the collector doesn't have and really, really wants---and must have. It is odd that a plated spoon would ever fetch over 50.00.

Here is a really good internet website I found that will help you decide what to do with your spoon collection:

Now here is something SPECTACULAR that Renee Webb Allen did with HERS (and oh, BTW, the spoons in the shot at the top of this post were her stash):

Is that AMAZING....or what?

I have taken the tops of a few demitasse spoons and filed them off to make little pendants; that's such a pretty think to do...but these souvenir ones are so colorful!

NOW THEN: you who are mixed media artists can take it to the next level. Using some of the new brass spoon blanks from B'sue Boutiques, you could add images of family, flowers, comic characters, text, you name it......mod podge them in, and top with resin. Cut, file, drill....and you have your own CUSTOM art charms, TOTALLY one of a kind.

Got your gears going yet?

We sold a lot of the spoons but still have some....more will also be arriving after the first of the year. This sort of art charm thing would even make a good challenge for the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

December 22, 2013

Yesterday I finished the focal I was working on...the one I was featuring with our new matte black brass samples:

I beaded up the back in my usual style with some vintage glass beads I had....they were perfect for the brass w added patina. At this point, I called the piece done.

But then I stood back and looked at it again.

The cameo seemed so STARK WHITE, details obscured by lack of color...no depth. Weird, since the rest of the piece has so much detail. It begged to be accented.

I got out the patina colored Gilder's Paste and 'watered it down' a bit with paint thinner, to be more like paint. I did a wash over the fairy, then another with black. I wiped it back with a wet wipe, leaving color in the recesses of the design. I added a drop more of patina, let it dry, then sealed it.

After that, I surrounded it with some of our 2mm crystal rhinestone chain:

December 21, 2013

These are the pieces that I made from our new brass spoon findings at B'sue Boutiques It is so much simpler than using the old flatware....not that I would mind! But it is very hard to cut and bend. You simply mark the sturdy spoon finding with your cutters, then you cut it with our metal shears:

November 07, 2013

Jann Tague (of Clever Designs at Etsy) loved to sew with her grandmother. Thinking back on those special times, she decided to dedicate a piece of her own handmade jewelry to those happy memories.

THAT is what this month's B'sue Boutiques Creative Group challenge is ALL about. Take a moment, think about YOUR special memories, then craft a special remembrance to something that has meaning in your life.

Sentimental Journey jewelry is not just a piece of jewelry with found items and trinkets on it, unless they mean something to YOU or to someone you love. Here's a fine example of antique memory jewelry:

This is a very valuable antique French brooch that depicts a flower bouquet under a glass dome. It is Victorian period, and the wisps, braids and leaves inside the dome are actually made from a loved one's hair. Perhaps, too, that dear one loved flowers.

The Victorians were particularly fond of jewelry that had personal meaning. Braiding hair so finely in this way was then, and still is, considered quite an art. To be sure, it's probably strange to some who have never seen it before and probably not something any of us are going to take up and learn. But you get the point, right? MAKE IT PERSONAL.

Here someone made a cameo of Gramma and pinned it to a bridal bouquet. What a lovely way to include precious memories when starting a new life with your one and only!

Here is a needle felted pendant of a darling doggie's face.....why not do a piece in memory of a favorite pet?

Think about your memories now...or even those to come. Here is the bracelet I made for my niece, Andrea, to wear for her wedding next weekend:

We are also making charm bracelets for all of the bridesmaids, I blogged about her choosing components for them, several weeks back. All of them have hand-engraved charms that say Maid of Honor. Andrea does not believe one best friend....ALL of her friends are best friends.

Hmmm. Her journey has 'only just begun'.

I am thinking back to mine.....how could I remember my own wedding this way? What do I have at home that I could use without having to destroy something?

Well, I still have some of my old wedding invitations. We didn't use them all, and I hated to throw them away, so I didn't.

I think I may have some old letters my husband wrote me, tucked away. I know I have a funky old pendant he bought me when we were dating. I never liked it much but I think I could make it into something I WOULD like now.

THAT would be Sentimental Journey jewelry, too. We have had a long one, over 38 years of marriage.

Another idea would be to find some bits of my son, Jordan's, old toys.... and put them with some special charms or engraved pieces. I think we might still have some stuff out in the garage.....

Does that get your wheels spinning? I'd love to see what you come up with, and hear the story that goes with it. Check us out at B'sue Boutiques for findings, stampings, filigree, cameos, charms....things to go with your collected items, to make those special pieces you will always treasure.